Post by himiko on Apr 6, 2014 23:41:06 GMT
Was wondering if anyone else has read this trilogy of books?
It's another take on the Arthurian legend, from the perspective of a warrior, and friend of Arthur, Derfel Cadarn. A lot of familiar characters appear in it- Merlin, Nimue, Arthur, Guinevere, Morgan, Lancelot- though some have quite a different take on them from other Arthurian legends. We don't really see anything of the gods- in fact, it's left a little ambiguous whether they exist at all throughout the series, with some parts seeming to imply that all of the supposed actions of the gods are really just tricks and coincidence, and other parts implying that there is real power that the Druids call upon- but the "battle" for Britain's religion is there, between the followers of the old gods - led by Merlin and Nimue - and the new Christian religion, chiefly championed by Bishop Sansum. The main focus of the story is the battles to unite Britain and drive out the Saxons, and it's very well told, IMO.
Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who likes the Arthurian legends, but it is a very different take with an air of "realism" about it. Certain elements - Mordred being Arthur's son, for example- have been altered, too.
It's another take on the Arthurian legend, from the perspective of a warrior, and friend of Arthur, Derfel Cadarn. A lot of familiar characters appear in it- Merlin, Nimue, Arthur, Guinevere, Morgan, Lancelot- though some have quite a different take on them from other Arthurian legends. We don't really see anything of the gods- in fact, it's left a little ambiguous whether they exist at all throughout the series, with some parts seeming to imply that all of the supposed actions of the gods are really just tricks and coincidence, and other parts implying that there is real power that the Druids call upon- but the "battle" for Britain's religion is there, between the followers of the old gods - led by Merlin and Nimue - and the new Christian religion, chiefly championed by Bishop Sansum. The main focus of the story is the battles to unite Britain and drive out the Saxons, and it's very well told, IMO.
Would thoroughly recommend to anyone who likes the Arthurian legends, but it is a very different take with an air of "realism" about it. Certain elements - Mordred being Arthur's son, for example- have been altered, too.
